upper school student handbook 2016-17 us...upper school student handbook 2016-17 breck upper school...

Upper School

Student Handbook

2016-17

Breck Upper School Handbook • 2016-17 [ 95 ]

August 2016

Dear Upper School Students and Parents -

Welcome to the 2016-2017 School year! We are thrilled to either welcome you to Upper School (for our ninth graders and any newstudents) or welcome you back to Upper School. As always, I hopethe summer has been restful and relaxing and that you’ve beenable to find time to do something you love.

As you read through this Handbook (and yes, we do expect you to have read the whole thing), please remember that theseguidelines and expectations are designed to help us as school create an environment that allows you, the students, to make the absolute most of your time here. We want you to dig deep into those passions that really excite you and we want to you time to explore what new areas of interest may await you. Wewant you to be devoted and committed students, and we want you to have fun.

The expectations outlined in this book are carefully thought outand revised each and every year. Should anything written raise any questions, please do not hesitate to reach out to anyone in theUpper School Office. Our numbers are all listed in just a few pages.

All the best for a great year!

Warmly,

Thomas E. TaylorUpper School Director

[ 96 ] Breck Upper School Handbook • 2016-17

Created by students and faculty in 1998, the honor codeis inspired by the mission of the school. The honor coderecognizes that the study and practice of honor in one’s own life is the foundation of individual character. Honor is more a matter of attitude and spirit than a

system of rules. This statement calls upon each student to act in a trustworthy manner and to work for the common good as responsible members of the school community. By signing this formal pledge, students are acknowledging their individual and collective commitment to these

principles in their daily lives at Breck.

—————————————————————

Breck Upper School Honor CodeWe value personal integrity and academic honesty

as fundamental principles that must be upheld through attitude and spirit by all members of the Breck community

in order to create an atmosphere in whichtrust, scholarship, and friendship may flourish.

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Upper School Mission StatementThe Upper School is a diverse community committed to creating an environment that promotes:

• A love of learning rooted in reflection, understanding, compassion, and integrity.

• Conversations between students and faculty forging relationships that strengthen the community.

• The courage to participate in the creation of a just, global community.


Breck AdministrationEdward Kim . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Head of School

763-381-8206

Patrick Phillips . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Assistant Head of School763-381-8177

Scott Wade . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Director of Admissions763-381-8202

Peg Bailey . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Lower School Director763-381-8220

Sky Fauver . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Middle School Director763-381-8212

Thomas Taylor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Upper School Director763-381-8209

Jonathan Nicholson . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Director of College Counseling763-381-8248

Meredith Cook VanDuyne. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Director of Advancement763-381-8343

Mary Healy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Director of Human Resources763-381-8251

Wendy Engelman . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Business Manager763-381-8217

Upper School AdministrationThomas Taylor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Upper School Director

763-381-8209

Chris Ohm. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Upper School Dean of Students763-381-8250

A. J. Colianni . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Upper School Dean of Studies763-381-8282

Staci Prior . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Upper School Counselor763-381-8245

College CounselingJonathon (Jonny) Nicholson . . . . . . . . . Director of College Counseling

763-381-8248

Susan Graham . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Assoc. Director of College Counseling763-381-8246

Andrea O’Connell . . . . . . . . . . . . . Assoc. Director of College Counseling763-381-8138


AthleticsBrett Bergene . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Director of Athletics

763-381-8257

Jon Martin . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Assistant Athletic Director763-381-8270

Tina Fourniea . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Assistant Athletic Director763-381-8219

Melrose Family Center for Servant LeadershipKim Peeples . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Director of Servant Leadership

763-381-8233

Memry Roessler . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Multicultural Coordinator763-381-8185

Frederique Schmidt. . . . . . . . . . Community Engagement Coordinator763-381-8345

Peter Clark Center Daisy Pellant . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Director of the Peter Clark Center

763-381-8346

Claire Blanchette Upper School Learning Consultant/Tutor Coordinator

763-381-8165

Carey Sirianni . . . . . . . . . Upper School Academic Resource Instructor763-381-8445

Upper School Administrative SupportShawna Goldschmidt . . . . . . . Upper School Administrative Assistant

763-381-8210

Kate Haberman. . . . . Upper School Office Assistant and Attendance763-381-8240

Nancy Dohr. . . . . . . . . . . College Counseling Administrative Assistantand Registrar763-381-8258

Academic Department HeadsDonald Bell . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . History Department Head

763-381-8350

Frank Eustis . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . English Department Head763-381-8309


Princesa Hansen . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Science Department Head763-381-8211

Merrill Harris . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Physical Education Department Head763-381-8308

Emily Jones. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Media Services Department Head763-381-8292

Alexis Kent. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Interim Religion Department Head763-381-8455

Brad Peterson . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Mathematics Department Head763-381-8269

Michal Sagar . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Visual Arts Department Head763-381-8192

Sebastien Saunoi-Sandgren. . . . . . Modern Lang. Department Head763-381-8150

TBA. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Performing Arts Department Head763-381-8369

Students should make sure that the school has an updated list of all family emergency phone numbers, including business numbers.Changes in phone numbers or address should be reported immedi-ately to the Main Office (763-381-8100).

Upper School FacultyCoreena Affleck . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 763-381-8252Anthony (Malik) Amankwa . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 763-381-8100Donald Bell . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 763-381-8350John Bellaimey . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (On Sabbatical 2016-17)Laura Berdine . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 763-381-8194Emily Brisse. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 763-381-8360Meg Carlsen . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 763-381-8339Whitney Clark . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 763-381-8352A. J. Colianni . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 763-381-8282Colleen Crenshaw . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 763-381-8407Dallas Crow . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 763-381-8361Scott Eichten . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 763-381-8351Frank Eustis . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 763-381-8309Mary Gentry . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 763-381-8269Susan Graham . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 763-381-8246Charlie Grossman . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 763-381-8223Tom Hegg . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 763-381-8102Princesa Hansen . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 763-381-8211


Melissa Hanson . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 763-381-8369John Iserman . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 763-381-8145Amy Iverson . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 763-381-8254Wendy Jerome . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 763-381-8100Chelen Johnson . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 763-381-8280Rob Johnson . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 763-381-8271Ashley Kieger . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 763-381-8100Edward Kim. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 763-381-8206Brad Kohl . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 763-381-8354Ben Lampe . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 763-381-8365Claudette Laureano . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 763-381-8371Leah Malec. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 763-381-8152Julie Manrique. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 763-381-8155Jon Martin . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 763-381-8270Lori Merrill . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 763-381-8358Deb Mixon. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 763-381-8297Jonathan Nicholson . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 763-381-8248Andrea O’Connell . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 763-381-8138Michael Oden. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 763-381-8373Chris Ohm . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 763-381-8250Carolina Olaya . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 763-381-8353Daisy Pellant. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 763-381-8346R. M. Pellant. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 763-381-8100Kim Peeples . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 763-381-8233Brad Peterson . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 763-381-8269Patrick Phillips . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 763-381-8177Staci Prior . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 763-381-8245Memry Roessler . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 763-381-8185Justin Roberson . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 763-381-8193Tim Rosenfield . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 763-381-8336Adam Ruderman . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 763-381-8356Michal Sagar . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 763-381-8192Sebastien Saunoi-Sandgren . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 763-381-8359Gretchen Scherer. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 763-381-8380Frederique Schmidt . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 763-381-8345Carey Sirianni . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 763-381-8445Paul Slack . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 763-381-8109Thomas Taylor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 763-381-8209Stacey Tepp . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 763-381-8100Trevor Thornton . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 763-381-8120Scott Wade. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 763-381-8202Jean Wang . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 763-381-8175Brian Wright . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 763-381-8366


Upper School Student SupportChris Ohm, Dean of Students . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 763-381-8250A. J. Colianni , Dean of Studies . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 763-381-8282Staci Prior, Upper School Counselor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 763-381-8245Jonathan Nicholson, Dir. of College Counseling . . . . . . . 763-381-8248Susan Graham, Assoc. Dir. of College Counseling. . . . . . 763-381-8246Andrea O’Connell, Assoc. Dir. of College Counseling. . . 763-381-8138Karen Kaverman, Health Center Coordinator. . . . . . . . . . 763-381-8241Rob Johnson, Interim Chaplain . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 763-381-8238Claire Blanchette, Learning Consultant/Tutor Coordinator . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 763-381-8165Daisy Pellant, Director of the Peter Clark Center. . . . . . . 763-381-8346Carey Sirianni, Academic Resource Instructor . . . . . . . . . 763-381-8445

Student Advocacy CouncilExecutive OfficersPresident . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Gigi GundersonExecutive Board . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Grace TaylorExecutive Board . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Andrew Quay

Class OfficersGrade 12Senior President . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Seyade TadeleSenior Vice President . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Julian Bieganski

Grade 11Junior President. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Cole MaxwellJunior Vice President. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Julia MurphyJunior Vice President. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Olivia VangJunior Vice President . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Tre’Allen Warner

Grade 10Sophomore President . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Spencer YuehSophomore Vice President . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Eloise CherianSophomore Vice President . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Kylie SpanglerSophomore Vice President. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Abigail Wesson

Grade 9Freshman . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . TBDFreshman . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . TBDFreshman . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . TBD


Student Athletic CouncilFALLCross-CountryElena BermanJon EkbergKajsa JohanssonSamuel RexMaggie Scott

FootballDaniel KuntzIsaac Luten VSoren Salveson

Boys SoccerAvi EllerGarrett OppermanConrad Smits

Girls SoccerGabriella ScarpaGrace Taylor

Girls TennisLacey BudniewskiIvy GarvisKatie Schmoker

VolleyballLauren BilcikSophia CherianMalisha Stevenson

Girls Swim & DiveGigi GundersonAllyssa PhelpsBella Pittinger

WINTERAlpine SkiJohn DempseyVan LundsgaardLauren MillerLiam O'Neill

Boys BasketballQuinlan FaethConnor OttDavid RoddySam Willey

Girls BasketballLauren BilcikKeely ConroyCeleste Haberman

GymnasticsKatie SchmokerKiwi Sundeen

Boys HockeyCarter BreitenfeldtMitchel MachlittDalton Weigel

Girls HockeyKendall WilliamsonGrace Zumwinkle

Nordic SkiJon EkbergHelene KimGennie Weiler

Boys Swim & DiveDavis Harrington

SPRINGBaseballCarter BreitenfeldtSoren SalvesonWill Torgerson

Boys GolfBen Turner

Girls GolfAnne JohnstonAlayna SimondsAmelia SimondsGrace Zumwinkle

Boys LacrosseReed GoldsteinBlaine MadsonBrendan Madson

Girls LacrosseLauren KozikowskiSamantha NelsonGrace Taylor

SoftballAddie GleekelMalisha StevensonOlivia Vang

Track & FieldElena CameronKajsa JohanssonDaniel KuntzJack Pohlad


Maryam AliElena BermanSophia CherianJon EkbergGigi GundersonHenry LourisHans LundsgaardVan Lundsgaard

Libby McCreaEmma MedeirosAyanna PlattEmily PluharKelly ReilingIsabella SurucuSeyade Tadele

Student Integrity CouncilGrade 12Sydney Powell (president), Renelle Mensah, Sophia Cherian, VanLundsgaard, Archana Murali, Allyssa PhelpsGrade 11Taylor Phillips, Sam Pacala, Cassidy Roland, Brooke Samaratunga,Alayna SimondsGrade 10Deirdre O'Neill, Quinton Wormald

House LeadersHauptPilar Burgess (12), Ayanna Platt (11), Arlo Zelickson (10), TBD (9)

SalasNicole Oppenheimer (12), Roamera Dalton (11), Lucia Miller (10), TBD (9)

WhippleKendall Williamson (12), Luci McGlynn (11), Quinn Wormald (10),TBD (9)

WilderJordyn Stillman (12), Julia Gabriel (11), Aviva Milgrom (10), TBD (9)

Student Service Council


AcademicsA Breck diploma indicates the successful completion of a set of specific graduation requirements and it recognizes the accomplish-ments made by a student towards the realization of the Breck mis-sion statement. To that end students are expected to meet the chal-lenges that mission presents by taking responsibility for their ownlearning, recognizing their own unique talents and abilities andthose of others, contributing to the life of the school, being open tonew ideas, accepting a responsibility for the common good andhelping to create a scholarly environment for all.

Academic ProgramThe academic program at Breck is firmly rooted in the Breck mission statement. Department course requirements provide students with a well-rounded education that will support them as they move on to college. Elective courses allow students to concentrate in areas of specific interest to them. The CommunityEngagement Program, senior speech and May Program require-ments provide creative opportunities for students to develop theirown unique talents as well as giving them opportunities to makemeaningful contributions to the Breck community and the worldbeyond.

Academic AdvisorEach student has an advisor. Advisors work with their advisorygroup during the weekly advisory period and, for ninth graders,during the Breck Community Engagement Program. Advisors workto ensure the well being of the students in their advisory group. An Advisor’s duties include: helping students plan their academicschedules, serving as an advocate for students in school matters,communicating with parents when needed, and taking a specialinterest in the events and concerns of their advisees. Advisorsreceive copies of all academic communications received by theiradvisees.


Academic Course RequirementsStudents are required to take a minimum of 44 semester creditsduring the regular academic program. The 44 semester creditsmust also satisfy the specific departmental requirements describedbelow.

English 8 semester credits including Grade 9 English, Grade 10 English and North American Literature.Students must be enrolled in an English course each semester.

Visual Arts and/or Performing Arts 2 semester credits

Health/Performance Physiology 1 semester credit

History 6 semester credits including U.S. History or AP U.S. History

Math 6 semester credits including Algebra I, Geometry and Algebra II

Modern Language 6 semester credits in the same languageincluding the third year of that language

Physical Education/Health 4 quarter credits

• Health (one quarter)• Performance Physiology (one quarter)• Physical Education (two quarters)

Note alternative methods of satisfying the semester elective requirement are listed in theUpper School Course Guide

Religion 2 semester credits including World Religions II (1 credit) and one of the following: Ethics, Texts and Contexts, Buddha/Jesus/Muhammad, Bioethics or Religious Imagery in Film (1 credit each)

Science 6 semester credits including Physics, Biology and Chemistry

Senior Year Senior year must include 5 academic courses each semester. Modifications should be consistent with prior academic load, college goals, and made only after consultation with the school.


Academic SupportAcademic AccommodationsIn order to promote student independence, ensure access to educa-tional opportunities, and help students reach their full potential,Breck School is committed to providing appropriate support neededto accommodate individuals with diagnosed learning differences.Academic accommodations are evaluated on an individual basis byBreck’s learning consultants based on recommendations providedby educational psychologists or other qualified professionals. Breck’slearning consultants and academic resource instructors provideindividual instruction in learning strategies and compensatory techniques, help with time-management and organizational skills,and arrange for academic accommodations. Accommodations mayinclude assistive technology, alternative testing arrangements, pre-ferred classroom seating, and differentiated instructional strategies.All accommodations are evaluated through the following process:

1. The family submits a formal request for accommodations,accompanied by supporting documentation, to the BreckLearning Consultant.

2. The Upper School Learning Consultant, along with the UpperSchool Dean of Studies, and the Upper School Counselor, reviewsthe request and formulates a recommendation that is presentedto the Upper School Guidance Committee.

3. The Upper School Guidance Committee reviews the request andprovides a recommendation to the Upper School Director. At thispoint additional information or meetings may be requested.

4. The Upper School Director renders a decision. 5. If the accommodation is approved, the Upper School LearningConsultant will write a Breck Accommodation plan.

6. In order for the student to best understand their learning profileand resulting accommodations, Breck will expect that all UpperSchool students with accommodation plans will be familiarwith said plans as well as any supporting documentation thatmay be requested.

Academic Resource Instructor/Supervised StudyRoom U212 is designated as a supervised study area for studentswho need or want additional direction during their unscheduledtime. This room is staffed by the full-time Academic ResourceInstructor, who provides academic and organizational support.Students who are assigned to supervised study have the same


attendance obligations as for regular classes. For other students, theresource is available as needed.

TutoringStudents are encouraged to see teachers for extra help during thetutorial period and after school. Faculty members may also be available at other times by prior arrangement. When consideringapproval of formal tutoring at Breck, the Upper School GuidanceCommittee considers the following:

• the student earned a C- or below and required individual help on a daily basis

• consistency of meeting between teacher/student for additional help

• the classroom teacher’s recommendation • student effort and study patterns • pre-existing learning issues • extraordinary situations, such as students falling behind in their work due to illness

If a student has been exerting effort and is still earning D and Fgrades, further support services are available through the Dean ofStudies and the Learning Specialist.

Formal tutoring at Breck is available for students who are having academic difficulty. Tutoring is available by teacher recommenda-tion, generally to students with grades of C- or below. Prior to beingconsidered for tutoring, students are required to see teachers consis-tently for extra help during tutorial periods and/or after school.

Students with Breck Accommodation Plans are exempt from thelow grade criteria. Students who have been absent for a significantperiod of time due to illness or emergency may request a Brecktutor.

When tutoring is approved, the Tutoring Coordinator determines the schedule. The billing rate for tutoring is set yearly by the BreckBusiness Office. Financial Aid may be applied to the cost of tutor-ing. Contact the Tutoring Coordinator for details.

In addition to tutoring, other support options are available throughthe Academic Resource Instructor, the Dean of Studies and theLearning Consultant.


Tutors who have been hired through private arrangement with students or families are not permitted to meet with students oncampus.

WaiversUnder exceptional circumstances, a waiver for a specific graduationrequirement may be considered. All waivers will be recorded onstudents’ transcripts. Waivers are evaluated through the followingprocess:

1. The family submits a formal waiver request and documenta-tion to the Upper School Dean of Studies.

2. The Upper School Learning Consultant reviews the request and formulates a recommendation that is presented to theUpper School Guidance Committee and the appropriatedepartment chair.

3. The Upper School Guidance Committee reviews the requestand provides a recommendation to the Upper School Director.At this point additional information or meetings may berequested.

4. The Upper School Director renders a decision.5. If the waiver is approved, it is documented on the student’stranscript and the family will receive a notification letter. If the waiver is not approved, the family will receive a letter ofexplanation.


Community Engagement ProgramUpper School Community Engagement RequirementBreck devotes weekly school time to off-campus communityinvolvement for every student and teacher in the Upper School. TheCommunity Engagement Program occurs during the middle of theday on Wednesdays and involves students and faculty traveling tosites near Breck to interact and collaborate with others outside ofour school bounds. The main objectives of our Wednesday morningcommunity partnerships are to:

1. Learn about systematic social issues, participate in collaborativesolutions, and foster a social conscience that leads to action;

2. Benefit local communities and further our community partners’missions and goals;

3. Encourage the development of the characteristics of servantleaders, including empowerment of others, empathy, humility,open and honest communication, and the creation of authenticrelationships;

4. Foster cultural self-awareness as well as provide opportunitiesto practice effective and appropriate interculture communica-tion in a variety of cultural contexts; and

5. Meet the deep needs of students and faculty to serve, to con-nect, and to put their spiritual and ethical values to work for justice and peace in the community.

In order to graduate, students must successfully meet the require-ments of the Community Engagement Program each year that they attend Breck. Students who miss more than three site visitsfor any reason are required to make up two hours of service to the Breck community for each absence (beginning with the thirdabsence). The Community Engagement Coordinator places stu-dents and faculty in groups and coordinates the entire project. Thisprogram is a school obligation.

Breck Service RequirementEach student is expected to perform some service each year.Students must accumulate at least 20 total hours over four years(averaging at least five hours per year of Breck-oriented serviceprojects). Opportunities may include work at a Special Olympicsevent, participation as a Tour Ambassador, or taking advantage of avariety of volunteer services both on and off campus that arisethroughout the school year. Hours are verified by faculty and credited by the Community Engagement Coordinator.


The Melrose Family Centerfor Servant Leadership"The journey of leadership is about becoming and not attaining a final destination.”

~ Ken Melrose, former Breck Trustee and Retired CEO of the Toro Company, and author of Making the Grass Greener

Established in 2013, the Melrose Family Center for Servant Leadershipis the physical and programmatic embodiment of Breck School’s ded-ication to cultivating future leaders in conjunction with the existingoffices of multicultural education, community service and religious/spiritual development. The concept of servant leadership, with itsprinciples of leading by serving others, is deeply resonant withBreck’s Mission of developing our students’ unique talents and capabilities while instilling a deep sense of social responsibility.

Vision Statement for the Melrose Family Center for StudentLeadership: Breck students will thrive in various leadership roles byusing the principles of servant leadership to be their best selves inorder to bring out the best in others.

Our dedicated space, located adjacent to the Salas Commons, willserve as a welcome to all who enter the Upper School from Breck’smain entrance — underscoring the school’s commitment to thework that will go on within its walls. Its flexible architecture willprovide space for speakers, seminars, group work and individualprojects.

As our work in the Melrose Family Center evolves, we will continueto look for ways to develop our students’ unique talents and capa-bilities, instill in each a deep sense of social responsibility, and sup-port the journey of future generations of servant leaders for yearsto come.

May ProgramAs part of the academic program, students complete May Programeach year following the conclusion of finals. Freshmen and sopho-mores take on-campus courses that include a combination of elec-tive and required courses. Juniors and seniors engage in experientiallearning opportunities, generally off-campus, which take the formof service projects, internships, and major independent projects.


May Program grades contribute to a student’s cumulative gradepoint average. Each May Program is the equivalent of one semestercourse. If a student does not complete May program satisfactorily,he/she must arrange an acceptable alternative program throughthe Dean of Studies and/or the May Program Coordinator. A MayProgram course guide will be made available to freshmen andsophomore students each year prior to registration.

Senior Attendance RequirementBreck School neither encourages nor discourages students to beenrolled in off-campus programs in their senior year. Requests to be given graduation credit for an off-campus program during thesenior year will be considered on a case-by-case basis.

Senior Speech RequirementEvery senior gives a formal speech to the entire Upper School during his or her senior year. It is a four-to six-minute speech on atopic that is meaningful to all. It is a chance for students to sharesomething significant that they have learned or thought about, andit is a key milestone in each Breck student’s career. Speeches arepart of the Senior Religion course, and are prepared and graded assuch. Seniors are expected to attend class directly after Chapel.

Homework and ExaminationsHomeworkHomework is important for academic success, the development ofself-discipline and good working habits. Teachers are available tohelp students who need it and will assist students in budgetingtheir time and effort, especially with long-term assignments.Ultimately, the responsibility for doing homework — properly andpunctually — rests with the student. Students are encouraged touse an electronic or paper planner. Students can expect 30 minutesof homework per class per night (45 minutes for AP or Advancedcourses). Teachers may also assign students to Monday School formissed assignments.

Completion of Major WorkIn order to pass a course, students must fulfill the criteria of allmajor assignments as designated by the teacher. If any majorassignment is not completed, an F is recorded on the transcript and credit is not given.


Homework and Absence from Class(See also Attendance Policy on page 126.) In general, for an absencethat the student knows about ahead of time, the student shouldhand in all homework prior to the absence and get the assign-ments for the classes that are missed.

Homework Over VacationNo regular homework is assigned over winter and spring vacationbreaks. The History Department may assign one book over winterbreak, and the English Department may assign one book overspring break. All departments may assign a single night’s home-work over shorter breaks such as Thanksgiving and Presidents’ Dayweekend.

Late Work PolicyA major assignment handed in after the due date is marked down up to one full letter grade for each day it is late. This includesweekends and other non-school days, provided the teacher allowswork to be submitted on those days. Requests for extensions orexceptions may be discussed with the teacher. Individual teachersset late work policies for assignments that are not major, such asdaily homework. A teacher may assign Monday School to a studentwho has not completed work on time. Students with a pattern oflate work may lose their prep period privileges and be placed insupervised study. All work is to be completed by the last class dayof the semester unless a student is eligible for an incomplete.Teachers may set earlier final deadlines for non-major work.

Project and Test Days CriteriaTeachers will collaborate on the due dates of major projects andtests through the use of the online testing calendar. In order toensure that students in all sections of a class have equal time totake an exam and that students do not miss other classes, teacherswrite tests so that they can be completed within the class period.Students will not be expected to complete more than three tests ormajor projects in one day. Quizzes may be given on non-designateddays if they do not exceed 15 minutes in length and cover appropri-ately limited material.

Semester Finals and Exam ScheduleThe exams are 20 percent of the student’s final semester grade andmust be taken during the scheduled period. An unexcused absence


from a scheduled final exam results in a 50 percent penalty. (Seealso Attendance Policy on page 126.) Students with conflicts due toAP Exams or multiple courses in a department must make up thetest during designated makeup times. If this is not possible, theteacher or the Dean of Studies will assign a makeup time.

Semester One Finals ScheduleMorning Afternoon

Date Exam (9-11 AM) Exam (1-3 PM)Monday, 12/12 History ScienceTuesday, 12/13 Study/Review DayWednesday, 12/14 English LanguageThursday, 12/15 Math MakeupFriday, 12/16 Makeup

Semester Two Finals ScheduleMorning Afternoon

Date Exam (9-11 AM) Exam (1-3 PM)Monday, 5/15 Science EnglishTuesday, 5/16 Study/Review DayWednesday, 5/17 Language MathThursday, 5/18 History MakeupFriday, 5/19 Makeup

Senior Final Exam PolicySeniors may be exempt from taking a second semester final examif the second semester grade in the course is at least a B and thestudent has no unexcused absences.

For students in AP courses, the AP exam will stand in for the final.Students are expected to demonstrate effort commensurate withtheir abilities on these exams. Those students who are deemed tohave not demonstrated such effort may be required to take the final.

The teacher’s discretion, in conjunction with the Dean of Studies,will decide both cases.


Evaluation of Student WorkGrading SystemWithin each semester the cumulative work is worth 80 percent and the exam is worth 20 percent. In those few courses that do not include a semester exam, the cumulative work serves as thesemester grade. During the first week of school, teachers hand out a summary of how grades are calculated, including what“weighting” (percentage) each item will count and how the semester grade is calculated. Letter grades given are A-F.

A reserved for truly outstanding workB indicates good workC indicates satisfactory workD indicates unsatisfactory work though credit is givenF indicates unsatisfactory work with no credit given

Based on a 100 percent scale, grades are determined as follows:

A = 94-100% C = 73-76%A- = 90-93% C = 70-72%B+ = 87-89% D+ = 67-69%B = 83-86% D = 63-66%B- = 80-82% D- = 60-62%C+ = 77-79% F = 59% and below

In the calculation of grades percentages are rounded to the nearest point.

Grade ReportingCumulative grades are available on an ongoing basis on the gradeportal. In addition, a system of academic communications keepsparents and students informed of significant changes in progressthroughout the year. After May Program, a copy of the student’stranscript for the year is sent home.

Academic Standing (GPA)Grades for semester courses and yearlong courses are based onsemester performance. Semester grades appear on students’ permanent transcripts and become part of students’ cumulativegrade point averages.


The Upper School employs a four-point system in computing gradepoint averages listed below:

Grade Grade PointsA 4.000A- 3.666B+ 3.333B 3.000B- 2.666C+ 2.333C 2.000C- 1.666D+ 1.333D 1.000D- 0.666F 0.000

Honor Roll DeterminationHonors List: Students who earn a semester average of 3.333 with nograde below a C+.

Headmaster’s List: Students who earn a semester average of 3.666with no grade below a B+.

Cum Laude SocietyThe Cum Laude Society is a national society within independentschools, the purpose of which is to recognize academic excellenceand achievement among students. According to national guide-lines, to which the Breck School chapter subscribes, a chapter mayelect up to 10 percent of the junior class and up to 20 percent of the senior class to the Cum Laude Society. Election is based on contributions to Breck and limited to students who have a gradepoint average of 3.666 or above.

Advanced Placement (AP) CoursesThese courses meet the College Board's Advanced Placement guide-lines. At the end of the course, students are required to take the AP exam. Students who score well on this exam may receive college credit or advanced standing. Breck's College CounselingOffice administers the exams. For more information, visit theCollege Board's AP website at apstudent.collegeboard.org.


Academic OptionsCourse PlacementIn order to meet the diverse academic needs of Upper School students, and to serve students of varying interests and ability levels, numerous academic options are available. Honors andAdvanced Placement (AP) classes are designed for students whohave clearly demonstrated their ability to engage in formal thoughtand conceptualize the course material in a specific discipline.

English: Placement in AP Literature and Composition: Prerequisite:Minimum grade of B for first semester and a B+ for the secondsemester of junior North American Literature. AP Language andComposition: Prerequisite: For seniors, a minimum grade of B forfirst semester and B+ for the second semester of junior NorthAmerican Literature; for juniors, a minimum grade of A- for the second semester of Sophomore English.

History: Placement in AP Art History, AP United States History andAP Modern European History is determined by teacher recommen-dation, student application and interview, a placement essay, andreview of standardized test scores. Placement in Advanced HistoryResearch is based on teacher recommendation, student applicationand interview.

Mathematics: Placement in Honors and AP courses is determinedby placement testing and by teacher recommendation. Placementin Community-Based Research in Mathematics is based on teacherrecommendation, student application and interview.

Modern Language: Placement in language classes is determined bytheir grade in their current course. Students must earn a 70 percentor higher for the semester two grade in order to move to the nextlevel. Students who do not achieve this level will need to re-takethe second semester final exam in August and receive a grade of 70percent or higher in order to advance.

Science: Placement in AP Biology and AP Chemistry is determined bygrade in chemistry. Placement in Advanced Science Research is basedon teacher recommendation, student application, and interview.


Independent Study Independent study is available at Breck. Students should see theDean of Studies for guidelines and to begin the application process.An independent study must be the sixth academic course and maynot be used to satisfy a departmental graduation requirement.

Course RegistrationCourse registration is conducted for all students during Marchunder the guidance of the Upper School Administration and thestudents’ academic advisors. Students work with their academicadvisors, parents and college counselors to take into account all ofthe students’ activities. Advisors help students make course choicesto create realistic and balanced schedules. This is very important toa students’ well being and to his or her success at Breck.

Students register for at least five academic courses. Those wishingto take more than six academic courses must have the permissionof the Dean of Studies.

Drop/Add PoliciesEvery effort is made to accommodate the courses requested by students at the scheduling conference. Because classes are carefullybalanced for size, course changes occur only in special circum-stances, including but not limited to:

• The change is academically necessary as determined by the Department Head, Dean of Studies and/or Upper School Director.

• The student made first and second choices for electives andreceived neither choice.

• A conflict in the schedule has prevented scheduling core academic courses.

• The schedule does not meet the minimum-load requirement or does not contain courses needed for satisfactory progresstoward graduation.

The Director of College Counseling must approve all changes to senior student schedules.


The following situations do NOT justify schedule changes:

• The student wishes to change teachers or course periods.• The student has changed his/her mind regarding a course choice.• The student did not receive a first choice but did not make alter-nate choices where indicated. (History and English electives,Visual/Performing Arts.)

Student/Parent — Drop/Add Prior to the First Week of SchoolTo make a schedule change prior to the beginning of the year, thestudent confers with the Dean of Studies. If the change is due toacademic necessity, concurrence of the Department Head may berequired. Written parental permission is also required. Studentsmay not attend new classes until the drop/add procedure has beencompleted. All course changes must be completed by the end of thesecond week of the course.

Student/Parent — Drop/Add Within the First Two WeeksTo drop or add a class during the first two-week drop period, thestudent:

• confers with the Dean of Studies and obtains a drop/add form;• confers with his or her advisor;• obtains all necessary signatures;• gives the completed drop/add form to the Dean of Studies.

If the academic advisor, parent, teacher, or Department Head doesnot think that the requested change is in the best interests of thestudent, he or she does not sign the form and a conference is heldwith the Dean of Studies.

Student/Parent — Withdrawal After the First Two WeeksWithdrawal from a course after the first two weeks of a semesteroccurs only in unusual and compelling circumstances. Doing poorlyin a course does not constitute a reason. A student who wishes topetition for such a withdrawal:

• confers with the Dean of Studies and obtains a petition form;• confers with his or her teacher and advisor;• obtains all necessary signatures;• submits the petition to the Dean of Studies for consideration.


If the request is approved, no graduation credit will be given for thefirst semester work. For seniors, updated transcripts with letters ofexplanation are sent to colleges that have received previous tran-scripts. School-initiated drops or adds may occur at any time andmay not result in changes on the transcript.

WithdrawalA student who withdraws from Breck will have the withdrawaldate with the current grade recorded on his/her transcript.

Off-Campus ClassesWhen the school cannot provide certain courses, students may bepermitted to take them off campus. These courses do not substitutefor Breck courses but supplement or go beyond the present curricu-lum. Students wishing to take courses off campus apply to theDean of Studies before enrolling in the courses.

Off-Campus Programs/Study AbroadStudents who wish to participate in a program of study during the academic school year that would take them off-campus for anextended period of time must abide by the following guidelines:

• The student must be in good standing.• The program must provide an academic curriculum that is compatible with the Breck course requirements.

Students must consult with the Dean of Studies and complete theSemester Away application before applying to an off-campus pro-gram. All off-campus programs must be approved by the UpperSchool Director. Breck will cap the total number of study awaysemesters for all students within a given year. Students who returnto Breck following their off-campus or study abroad program willbe charged a fee to hold their place in their class.

Academic ConcernsExcessive Late WorkStudents who develop a pattern of excessive late work in a singleclass or in multiple classes may be placed in supervised study halland/or assigned Monday School after school to work on homeworkin a supervised setting.


Incomplete CoursesA grade of incomplete may be given at the end of a marking periodonly in the case of extended illness or other extraordinary circum-stance. In other cases the student receives a final grade of F.Extensions for incompletes beyond two weeks after the end of themarking period require the approval of the Dean of Studies.

Academic ProbationBreck strives to present each student with a challenging academicprogram and appropriate support. Breck expects academic effortand seriousness of purpose on the part of its students. Studentswho are not making satisfactory progress towards the completionof the academic course requirements will be placed on academicprobation. Students on academic probation may be supported inthe following ways:

• be assigned a mentor;• be scheduled into supervised study;• receive academic communications in all subjects at appropriateintervals;

• have his/her continued involvement in extracurricular activi-ties/athletics reviewed by the Upper School Director.

Seniors on academic probation will not have senior privileges.

A student will be placed on academic probation if they earn onegrade of F or two grades of D+ or lower in a single semester. Inorder for a student to come off of academic probation, he or shemust earn all grades of C- or higher for two consecutive semesters.Students who are on academic probation for two consecutivesemesters will have their re-enrollment contracts held and may be subject to dismissal.

The Dean of Studies and the Guidance Committee will monitor the progress of all students on probation. The Dean of Studies willprovide a list of expectations for students on probation.


CommunicationSchools and families share in the responsibility for the well-being of the students. To that end, the Upper School promotesmeaningful, respectful and timely communication. It is the school’sexpectation that students take the lead in communicating withfaculty and staff.

Academic CommunicationParents are encouraged to call or email teachers with course-specific questions. Broader academic or social questions should be directed to the Dean of Studies or Dean of Students. To speakwith a teacher or administrator, use the Directory section includedin this Handbook. If a teacher or administrator is not available,please leave a message with suggested times when the call may be returned. Teachers and administrators will return parent communications as soon as possible.

Academic UpdatesTeachers will communicate with students and parents by emailwhen:

• a student earns a C- or below on a significant piece of work oron a major test.

• a student’s overall earned grade is C- or below.• overall grades and assignment grades are above C-, but the student shows patterns of poor performance in specific areas(e.g., written tests or turning in assignments late).

• other reasons at the teacher’s discretion.

Narrative ReportsTeachers will write narrative reports for each student midwaythrough each course (October, January and March for first-semes-ter, year-long, and second-semester courses, respectively). Thesereports are designed to give students and their parents a broadsense of the student's progress in the course to date, trends in theirwork, and a teacher's observations. These reports, taken as a group,give families an opportunity to evaluate a student's work overalland should be used to help form approaches to the second half ofeach course.


Age of MajorityBreck considers those individuals who have signed the enrollmentcontract to be designated as educational decision makers. In keep-ing with this, those parents and guardians who have signed theenrollment contract will also have access to a student's educationalrecords while he or she is enrolled at Breck School. This policy willremain in effect even after students reach the age of majority (18 years old).

Student CommunicationImportant messages received for students during the school daywill be emailed to the student. Each student is issued a Breck emailaccount. This serves as a primary source of communication forBreck correspondence. The students are responsible for checkingtheir email regularly throughout the school day. Students willreceive a daily bulletin (Mustang Minute) with calendar updatesand other important announcements.

Parent–School CommunicationEmail Bulletin BoardsThe school sends out weekly email Bulletin Boards to all parentseach Thursday during the school year. These emails list Breckevents and points of interest for the upcoming week.

Student/Teacher/Parent ConferencesStudent/Teacher/Parent conferences are scheduled for October 6-7,2016, and Student/Advisor/Parent registration conferences arescheduled for March 2-3, 2017. These events are offered during theday and in the evening hours in order to meet a variety of familyschedules. Parents will sign up for conferences using an online registration system. A mailing to parents before each conferencedate will give instructions for accessing the system. Students areexpected to attend conferences with their parents.

Upper School parents are encouraged to discuss matters of concernabout their children’s school performance or any other school-related issue with the appropriate teacher, advisor or Upper Schooladministrator. Parents with academic or classroom-related con-cerns should first contact the teacher of the individual course.Parents with concerns across several courses or activities may wish to contact the student’s advisor in addition to the teacher orteachers involved. For questions involving school policies, or for


further clarification or discussion, parents may contact the Dean ofStudies on matters pertaining to academic and classroom concerns,or the Dean of Students on matters pertaining to the co-curricularprogram, student concerns or discipline.

Snow Day School CancellationIf school has to be cancelled due to bad weather, it will beannounced as early as possible. Check local media: KARE, KMSP,KSTP and WCCO and their related radio stations and websites. Ifyou do not see or hear Breck listed among closed schools, assumethat school will be in session. Breck also uses an automated phonemessage system where important messages may be recorded andrelayed to families using the phone number(s) provided to Breck'semergency contact phone list. This system will be used toannounce snow days and other emergencies, as well.


FacilitiesCampus BoundariesFor safety reasons, the school has specific boundaries for studentsduring the school day. During the school day, all students (exceptseniors with off-campus privileges) must remain on Breck’s campusbordered by the driveway. Students are not to be in the Mustanglot, Senior lot, McKnight Stadium, Ottawa Field, Baseball Fields,Highway 100 Fields, or in the Faculty/Staff lot behind the schoolwithout permission from the Upper School office. The Breck SchoolAnderson Ice Arena is off limits to individual students during tutorial and their free periods.

Chapel and Chapel GalleryAll students attend Chapel programs and are expected to conductthemselves appropriately. Because Chapel provides an opportunityfor reflection, books, notebooks, electronic devices and the like arenot allowed, nor are food and drinks. Students may only be in theChapel or Chapel Gallery with permission.

Dining RoomThe dining room is open to students during their free time. Aftereating, students return their trays and dishes to the dishwasherarea, and dispose of their garbage. No dishes or other kitchen supplies may be taken from the dining room.

Hallways Hallways should be clear and quiet during class times. Students areto conduct themselves appropriately in the hallways. Inappropriatebehavior includes — but is not limited to — making undue noise,running or roughhousing, and throwing objects (e.g., frisbees andballs). Students should keep the hallways free for easy passage andtake care not to crowd or in any way physically obstruct othersfrom passing. Students need to keep their hallways clean.

LibraryThe Upper School Library is open from 7:30 AM to 4:30 PM Mondaythrough Thursday and from 7:30 AM to 3:30 PM on Fridays and ondays preceding a vacation period.

The use of the Library is a privilege for Breck Upper School studentswho exercise common courtesies and use it for its intended purposes. It is a place for reference work, for getting material toprepare assignments, to engage in quiet study, to complete make-up exams, to utilize computers for academic pursuits, or to satisfypersonal reading interests. Students may utilize the Library facility


and resources freely throughout the school day. Please observe thefollowing:

• Food and drink (other than water in a capped container) arenot allowed in the Library.

• Conversation must be kept to a level that does not hinder the studies or purposes of other patrons.

• Students are expected to engage in academic pursuits while in the Library.

Check-out information:

• Students may check out books for three weeks and renew themfor additional time, if necessary. All items must be checked-outbefore removal from the Library.

• Magazines, reference books, reserve books, digital cameras andother audiovisual equipment and videos/DVDs circulate overnightonly. They are due by 8:30 AM on the following school day.

• Overdue notices are printed and distributed to student lockerseach Wednesday. Items not returned or renewed after receipt ofthe third overdue notice will be billed at replacement cost to astudent’s account. Items not returned at the end of the schoolyear will be billed to a student’s account. Any billed itemsreturned within one calendar year will be refunded.

• Lost items will be billed at replacement cost to a student’s account.

LockersStudents are assigned lockers by the Upper School office. Lockersare considered school property and may be opened and checked by school personnel at any time. At the end of each school year, students are expected to clean out their lockers. The school is notresponsible for loss or damage to property in lockers. The schoolwill dispose of materials left in lockers at the end of the school year.

Senior CommonsThe use of the Senior Commons is a privilege. Seniors are responsi-ble for keeping the area clean and for behaving appropriately.

Samuel A. Salas CommonsUpper School students may study, talk quietly and relax in the SalasCommons. Fresh fruit and vending machine items are permitted inthis area. Students are responsible for keeping this area clean. Studentsare NOT allowed to rearrange furniture in the Salas Commons.


Upper School ExpectationsAttendance PolicyAttendance is taken each class period. Students who do not have a first-hour class, and seniors who do not have senior privileges but do have first hour free, are expected to sign in with the UpperSchool Attendance Clerk by 8:30 AM. Students who sign in or arriveto class after 8:30 AM will be marked tardy. Students who are tardymust have a pass from the Upper School Attendance Clerk to entera first-hour class. Tardiness is excused only under exceptional circumstances.

If students are too ill to attend school, or must be absent for anotherreason, parents are asked to telephone the Upper School AttendanceClerk (763-381-8240) by 9:00 AM each day, or email the office [email protected]. Students are granted an excused absence from school if they:

• Are ill or injured;• Have an emergency or a death in the family;• Have filled out absence agreement form (see Prearranged

Excused Absence on page 128).- a verified medical or dental appointment;- an approved college visit or meeting;- school-sponsored event; or- an appointment that cannot be scheduled outside of theschool day.

• Students/parents must have official verification of visit from medical/dental office.

• Have other reasons approved by the Dean of Students.• All extracurricular participation is suspended with absences(excused or unexcused) unless approved by the Upper Schooloffice. This includes absences due to illness.

The school asks that every effort be made to schedule appoint-ments outside the school day or during the student’s prep time.(See Upper School Athletic Attendance Expectations on page 151.)


To fully benefit from their Breck education, students must be pres-ent in all of their classes and service commitments. In keeping withthe spirit of this requirement, the school will treat any days missedthat are extensions of already existing vacations as unexcused. Theschool recognizes that families may, under extraordinary circum-stances, need to make exceptions to this policy. In these cases, stu-dents must fill out an Absence Agreement Form at least one weekbefore the planned absence and have it approved by the UpperSchool Director. The Upper School Director handles any questions inthis regard. Students who become ill during the school day may beexcused to see the nurse and rest, if necessary, in the Health Centerfor up to one hour. Students must have a pass from either theirclassroom teacher or the Upper School office if they become ill during a prep hour.

To return to class, students must present a pass signed by thenurse. If, after one hour, a student is not well enough to return toclass, the nurse will call the parents to take the student home early.Student absences will be considered unplanned and unexcused ifthey leave school, ill without checking out of the nurse’s office.

In case of an emergency, the nurse will be called and will decidethe next course of action in consultation with Upper School administration.

Absences from ClassExcused Absences Due to IllnessStudents who are absent one or two days due to illness have twodays to make up the work. Students who are absent three dayshave three days to make up work. Students who are absent forlonger than three days must work with their teachers to arrange amake-up schedule. Extensions and exceptions to this policy may be arranged with the Dean of Studies. Regardless of the length ofabsence, students are responsible for obtaining all assignments bychecking the course website or contacting their teacher.

Absences Not Due to IllnessAbsences that the student knows about in advance must be accom-panied by an Absence Agreement Form handed in at least oneweek prior to the planned absence. (For example, if a student willbe gone on Friday, then the student must return the form by 3:15 PMon the preceding Friday.) The Upper School Director will determine


whether or not the absence is excused. (Family vacations and dayson either side of scheduled school vacations are not excused. Familyweddings and funerals are excused.)

• Prearranged Excused AbsenceWhen an Absence Agreement Form is completed, it is theresponsibility of the student to work with the teacher and com-plete as much work as possible before the student leaves. Allremaining work is due by 4:15 PM or time designated by teacherthe day the student returns. Extensions and exceptions to thispolicy may be arranged through the Dean of Studies.

• Prearranged Unexcused AbsenceWhen an Absence Agreement Form is completed, it is theresponsibility of the student to work with the teacher and com-plete as much work as possible before the student leaves. Allremaining work is due by 4:15 PM the day the student returns.All work completed following a prearranged unexcused absencewill receive 80 percent of the grade earned. Note: An unarrangedunexcused absence is considered a skipped class, resulting in apenalty of 50 percent of the grade earned.

Excused Absences for Athletic CompetitionThe following guidelines have been adopted to help students andfaculty respond to extra curricular absences sponsored by BreckSchool. Our primary objective is to allow the student to be success-ful in extracurricular events while maintaining the academicenergy of the school. While the school feels very fortunate to haveso many successful extracurricular programs, we must also adhereto the belief that in order for students to benefit fully from theirBreck education, students must be present in all classes possible.

• The student(s) shall not miss regular school day obligations inorder to view parts of the event in which they are not partici-pating. Any student(s) missing obligations on such days will beconsidered ineligible for remaining performances in that event.

• Both the Athletic Director and the Upper School Director willdecide the time of dismissal from school that is appropriate forthe student(s) on the event days.

• The student(s) must complete all homework, quizzes and testsprior to the absence and get the next day’s assignments prior toleaving. Missed work due to the absence must be made up thefollowing day or the Late Work Policywill apply. (See Late Work


Policy on page 112.) A student who misses two days will havetwo days to make up work.

• It is the responsibility of the student(s) to be prepared for homework, quizzes and tests upon their return to school. Anyextensions or exceptions to this policy may be arranged withthe classroom teacher and Dean of Studies, but must be done so prior to the absence.

Excused Absences for Part of the School Day (other than medical appointments)Students are required to submit an Absence Agreement Formwhen missing part of a school day. Students who miss a classbecause of athletic activities or scheduled field trips must hand inhomework due in missed classes and get the next day’s assignmentprior to leaving. Missed work from class must be made up the fol-lowing day or the Late Work Policywill apply. (See Late Work Policyon page 112.) If students have an excused absence from a class butare otherwise in school, they adhere to the following policy:

• Students who are late to school (excused) make up all workfrom the missed classes that same day by 4:15 PM, or time designated by teacher, or the Late Work Policywill apply.

• Students who miss classes during the day (excused) for reasons other than athletic activities or full-day scheduled field trips make up all work in missed classes that same day by 4:15 PM, or the Late Work Policywill apply.

• Students who leave early due to a prearranged excusedabsence, such as a doctor’s appointment, make up all workthey miss before they leave school that day, or the Late WorkPolicywill apply.

• Students who leave early due to an illness excused by theschool nurse make up missed work the following day if theyreturn to school or the Late Work Policywill apply.

• All extracurricular participation is suspended with absences(excused or unexcused) unless approved by the Upper Schooloffice.

College VisitsOn-Campus College Representative MeetingsEleventh- and twelfth-grade students who wish to meet with college representatives visiting Breck must request permission atleast one day in advance from teachers whose classes they will


miss and assume responsibility for making up all missed classwork by 4:15 PM, or time designated by teacher, the day of the college representative visit. If the teacher denies permission toattend the session, students must attend class. Students attendingsessions must sign in with the college representative.

Off-Campus College TripsSeniors are encouraged to use non-school days and other vacationtimes for college visits. The Director of College Counseling mustapprove and sign an Absence Agreement Form for off-campus college trips during school days. Students work with the CollegeCounseling office to obtain the necessary forms and information so that they fulfill all obligations.

DancesAll dances are open to every student in grades 9-12 except theProm, which is open only to juniors, seniors and their junior or senior guests. Students register guests in advance with the Dean of Students and introduce them to the school chaperones uponentering the dance. Students and their guests are subject to allschool regulations. Once students or guests have left a dance, they may not return. Students must arrive at a dance by 9:00 PM;no one will be admitted after 9:00 PM. Exceptions must beapproved by the Dean of Students. Students and their guests are subject to all school regulations.

Dress Code for dances shall be consistent with the expectations of Upper School.

Casual dances will end at 11:00 PM. All other Upper School danceswill end at 11:30 PM. Changes in times may be made by the UpperSchool administration.


Dress CodeThe dress code has been established to allow for diversity and individuality in dress while maintaining a standard appropriate forschool. The school reserves the right to determine what acceptabledress is. Students should be responsible and use discretion in following the dress code. Ordinarily dress that attracts undue ornegative attention or infringes on the rights or values of others isnot considered to be in the spirit of the dress code. For informationabout violation of the dress code and procedures, refer to Violations,Process and Disciplinary Action (page 134).

Tops• Exposed undergarments, midriff and cleavage are not allowed.• Printed slogans/advertising on shirts and sweatshirts is limitedto colleges and Breck.

Pants, Skirts, Shorts and Dresses• Pants must be worn above hip line with no undergarmentsexposed.

• Skirts, shorts and dresses must be no shorter than mid-thigh.• Rips or tears in clothing are not permitted.• Athletic attire (including, but not limited to athletic shorts, yogapants, leggings, and sweat pants) are not considered to be indress code.

Footwear• Open-toed shoes are limited to dress sandals.• Athletic sandals, beach shoes, and flip flops are not permitted.

Headwear• Hats and other headwear are only allowed outside the school building.

All-School Dress-Up DaysAll-School Chapels, Trustee Day, Grandparents Day, AcademicAwards Day and other days designated by the administration areconsidered designated “dress-up” days. On these days, appropriatedress is either a tie, dress shirt, dress pants, appropriate shoes, andcoat (optional); or appropriate dress, skirt or dress pants with ablouse, and appropriate shoes.


Driving/ParkingThe school grants driving privileges to students who:

• Have a valid driver’s license;• Watch the Breck Transportation Driving Protocol video providedby the Breck Transportation Department;

• Register their vehicles with the Transportation Director whoissues a parking sticker and assigns a parking lot;

• Park their vehicles only in designated student spots within theirassigned lots. Student vehicles found in faculty-designatedareas, visitor or handicapped parking spots or fire lanes may betowed at the owner’s expense. Parking on Ottawa Avenue orneighborhood streets is not permitted;

• Drive carefully. Careless driving or any other abuse of the driving privilege results in the suspension or revocation of the driving privilege.

Electronics When students are free (passing time, lunch, free periods, etc.) theymay use all capabilities of their mobile phones EXCEPT for placingor receiving voice or video calls. If students need to place or receivecalls on their phones, they may step into the upper school office ora classroom and ask permission to use their phones.

• Student phones are to remain on silent and put away duringchapel, advisory, service, assembly, meetings with teachers, or any other scheduled Breck obligation.

• Phones must remain off (not just on vibrate) during any testing situation.

• In class, students may only use their phones with permissionfrom their teacher and then only for appropriate, curricularpurposes.

• Texting, emailing, or the personal use of social media apps are NOT permitted during class.

• Students’ phones should be away when they are in the Middleor Lower School areas and may not be used in bathroom orlocker room facilities.

It is the sincere hope that we are thoughtful and intentional in ouruse of technology. The connections that we form during the schoolday are some of the most important aspects of a Breck education.


Should the above policy in any way interfere with the healthygrowth and development of the Upper School community and theindividuals that comprise the community, it will be reconsideredand possibly revoked.

GuestsAll student guests must be scheduled through the Upper Schooloffice.

Money and ValuablesStudents should not bring large sums of money or items of greatpersonal or monetary value to school. The school cannot assumeresponsibility for the loss of such items.

Senior PrivilegesPlease refer to the Senior Privilege Contract for further explanation(available in the Upper School office).

Signing In/Signing OutStudents entering or leaving the school campus between 8:30 AMand 3:15 PM must sign in and sign out in the Upper School office.

A student must have communication from a parent to sign out. Students without a note must have the Dean of Students’ permission before signing out. For absences from school because of athletics or other school-sponsored activities, refer to theAttendance Policy on page 126.

Unscheduled TimeThe amount of unscheduled time in student schedules varies fromday to day. It is a part of an Upper School education to learn to usetime effectively. Students may use unscheduled time during theschool day to:

• study or do research in an appropriate student area;• meet with a member of the Breck faculty or staff;• socialize in an appropriate area.

The school’s expectation is that the use of electronics for entertainment is not appropriate during the school day.


Students who want to use athletic facilities or equipment duringhis or her prep periods must obtain permission and arrange forsupervision from the Physical Education Office.

Violations, Process and Disciplinary ActionBreck strives to promote a supportive and ethical community forindividuals of different backgrounds and talents. The community’ssuccess is in direct relation to the individuals’ concern for eachother and for the school. It is important for Breck School to have ahealthy environment in which to learn and work. Consequently we, in turn, have a responsibility to uphold the Upper School HonorCode and Mission. Breck School is clear about its expectations of itsstudents and equally clear in our understanding that students will,with honesty and integrity, be forthright when they do not meetthose expectations.

The Enrollment and Tuition/Fee Contract that parents sign annual-ly states “You and the student agree to accept the rules and regula-tions of Breck School that are stated (in the contract) and appear inthe student handbook, catalogs, ‘Back-to-School’ mailings and anyother written or verbal communications from us to you and thestudent.” The failure of a student to abide by Breck School’s rulesand regulations—including its rules of student conduct—can con-stitute a breach of that contract and can result in its terminationand the dismissal from enrollment of the offending student.

Disciplinary ProcessTeachers and administrators handle disciplinary problems byspeaking directly to students and attempting to resolve difficulties.In certain circumstances early warnings are given. If there areminor offenses, the Dean of Students designs appropriate respons-es through discussions with the student, parents and the UpperSchool Director. In certain disciplinary cases the Upper SchoolDirector will convene the Student Integrity Council. Occasionallythe Upper School Director may convene a subset of the StudentIntegrity Council consisting of the seniors and faculty members of the council in order to discern the appropriate next steps.

Student Integrity Council— In the event that a major school rule violation has been committed, the Student Integrity Council will be convened. The Student Integrity Council will hear cases with the exception of the following: invasion of privacy of a student,


invasion of privacy of a teacher, or a breach of confidential communication. A student may also waive their right to go before the Council.

The Upper School Student Integrity Council consists of two or more students from each of the sophomore, junior and senior classes, two faculty members, the Dean of Studies, and is chaired by the Dean of Students. When it is convened, the council meetswith the student involved. The student’s advisor will be present forguidance and support. First the student is asked to explain his/herunderstanding of the incident. Then the council president will askquestions to clarify factual issues. The floor is then open for anycouncil members to ask questions.

After this step, the student leaves and his/her advisor may speakon his/her behalf bringing any knowledge of the student to thegroup so that they may make the most informed recommendationfor the student’s future. When the advisor leaves, the council deliberates and recommends a course of action to the Upper SchoolDirector who makes the final disciplinary decision in conjunctionwith the Head of School. The Dean then communicates the decisionto the student and the student’s parents/guardians both orally andin writing. Copies of these letters are kept on file in the Dean ofStudents’ office. In the event of suspension, the Dean will have anadditional meeting with the student upon their return to school.

Disciplinary WarningAt times during the school year students may find themselvesfaced with a situation not aligned with the affect or behaviorexpected by members of the Upper School in accordance withBreck’s Mission and Values. If these community expectations and behaviors are not met, a student may receive a disciplinarywarning, in writing, from the Dean of Students. If the issue is notresolved, or multiple warnings have been issued, a student mayfind him or herself moving on in the disciplinary process.

Disciplinary ProbationDisciplinary probation places a student on notice that if he or shebecomes involved in a significant disciplinary situation during the probationary period, he or she is subject to dismissal. At the end of a student’s probationary period, the Dean of Students mayrecommend to the Upper School Director either extension or termination of probation.


SuspensionSuspension is the temporary separation of a student from the community for no more than ten days. The terms of the suspensionare defined in each instance but, in general, suspension involvesthe school’s temporary withdrawal of the student’s right to attendclasses. When serving a suspension, the student must turn in allmissed graded academic work and makeup tests or quizzes uponhis or her return to school. Faculty will not be expected to offer helpin assignments under these circumstances. Graded work missedduring a Suspension with Academic Penalty must be completed,but will receive only 50 percent of the grade earned. The Dean of Students and the Upper School Director in consultation with the Head of School will determine the terms of suspension. Thedecision of the Head of School is final and is not subject to appeal.

DismissalDismissal from Breck may be the consequence of violating one ofthe major rules stated below and is determined by the Head ofSchool in consultation with the Upper School Director and theDean of Students. The Head of School makes the final decisionfrom which there is no appeal. Students who have been dismissedmay visit campus only with the permission of the Upper SchoolDirector.

In addition students may be dismissed under the guidelines of the academic probationary policy.

Contracts of students on probation will be held until the end of theacademic year. The school reserves the right to review any studentwho has been involved in any school violation to determine theirre-enrollment. Any such decision would involve the Upper SchoolDeans, the Upper School Director and the Head of School.

Reporting of Disciplinary OutcomesIn accordance with the National Association of College AdmissionCounseling (NACAC) Principles of Best Practices, Breck will complywith colleges’ requests for information regarding applicants’disciplinary records by requiring students to inform colleges inwriting of any significant disciplinary or academic misconduct,either before or after their submission of applications. When possible, the school will include this student communication with the Secondary Report Form and Counselor Recommendation.Full support from the school is contingent on students’ direct


communication to all colleges or universities that request disciplinary information.

The following school rule violations are considered minor: Being tardy to class; being absent from class; violating the dresscode; going to the parking lot without permission.

Minor infractions of the school’s standards may be handledthrough disciplinary warnings or work detail.

The following school rule violations are considered major: An accumulation of minor offenses: leaving campus without per-mission; skipping school; dishonesty; stealing; cheating; plagiarism;vandalism; possession/distribution or use of alcohol, mood-alteringchemicals, narcotics, drugs, other controlled substances, or look-alike substances, except as prescribed by a physician to the student,which includes one student sharing prescription medication withanother student; violence; verbal, physical or other kinds of harass-ment; hate speech; violation of the student technology operatingpolicy; and possession of a weapon. This list of violations is not tobe considered exhaustive. The School will be the final decisionmaker as to what constitutes a major rule violation.

As explained in this section, students who violate these major rules will be held strictly accountable and may be subject to dismissal. Inaddition to the major rule violations in this section, the followingare grounds for dismissal:

• willful conduct that significantly disrupts the rights of others toan education, the ability of school personnel to perform theirduties, or school-sponsored activities;

• willful conduct that endangers the student or other students, orsurrounding persons, including school employees or property ofthe school.

Academic HonestyThroughout the year, faculty and staff discuss academic honesty —including plagiarism — with students and reinforce the school’sexpectations on cheating including what constitutes the differencebetween collaborative/cooperative learning and cheating. Studentsare responsible for understanding what constitutes plagiarism andother forms of academic dishonesty; ignorance is not an excuse.


Cheating includes:

• turning in work that is not your own;• not collaborating on a paper or project where all members are responsible and claiming credit;

• copying someone else’s work or allowing someone to copy your work;

• sharing or acquiring test information except as allowed by teachers;

• using crib sheets for exams except as allowed by teachers;• turning in work that has already been credited in another class;• other situations judged dishonest by the school.

In addition to disciplinary measures as described in the ViolationsProcess and Disciplinary Action section, school policy requires thatno credit may be given for the work in question.

Plagiarism, the theft and misrepresentation of the original author’sideas as one’s own, is a serious form of academic dishonesty. Youavoid plagiarism by documenting the words and ideas of otherswhen you use them in your writing. The following are forms of plagiarism:

• presenting someone else’s idea but not documenting it (so theidea seems to be yours);

• presenting someone else’s words without documenting them(so they seem to be part of your own writing);

• quoting someone else’s words—perhaps even documentingthem—but failing to use quotation marks (see The PracticalWriter 4).

The English Department and the Upper School Library providehandbooks to serve as the guide for style and format at Breck.Students are expected to use this guide and to see teachers or theLibrarian if they have questions or need help understanding theexpectations. Students are responsible for knowing and followingthe teacher’s requirements for a particular assignment.

Boundary ViolationsFor safety reasons, the school has specific boundaries for studentsduring the school day. Students are not to be in the parking lotswithout permission from the Upper School office.


Dress Code ViolationsStudents need to dress according to the spirit of and the letter ofthe dress code. (See Dress Code on page 131.) Students violating thedress code may be asked to change or go home. If a student mustleave campus to change, his or her absence will be consideredunexcused.

Tardies and Absences• Unexcused tardies— Accumulation of excessive tardies orabsences may be considered a major school rule violation, andstudents who are repeatedly tardy will be reported to the Deanof Students who will communicate with the family.

• Students who miss a quiz or activity at the start of a class due to tardiness must make up any missed work by 4:15 PM, or timedesignated by teacher, or the Late Work Policywill apply.Students who are tardy to the first class of the day must have a pass from the Upper School office in order to be admitted to class. For unexcused tardiness, an additional 50 percent unexcused absence penalty is applied.

• Coming to class 15 minutes after the start is considered an unexcused absence.

• Failing to fill out an Absence Agreement Form will result in anunplanned unexcused absence. An unexcused absence willresult in forfeiture of extra curricular activities for that day.

• Faculty and staff will report the third Wednesday CommunityEngagement absence for the school year to the Dean of Studentsand the Service Engagement Coordinator.

• A student who is absent for ten or more classes (excused orunexcused, including illness) during a semester will receivecredit for the semester only upon the review of the circum-stances of the absences and the final level of achievement in the class. This review will be done by the Dean of Studies in consultation with the student’s teachers and the guidance committee. Based on that review a recommendation will bemade to the Upper School Director and the Head of School.


Health Center InformationThe Health Center is located in the corridor between the MiddleSchool Commons and Gym C. It is open from 8:15 AM to 3:30 PMdaily and for emergencies from 3:30 to 4:00 PM. Our Health Centeris staffed with a licensed school nurse (LSN) and health assistant.The LSN provides emergency care assessments and interventions,management of acute and chronic health conditions, referral andsupport to access primary care, preventative services, communica-ble disease control measures, counseling for health promotion, andidentification and management of barriers to student learning.

Parents/students frequently ask when students may return toschool after an illness. In general, their body temperature must beless than 100 degrees for 24 hours and there should be no vomitingor diarrhea in the past 24 hours. Students should be able to tolerateeating as they normally would and have stamina to get throughthe demands of the school day. If having your child at school wouldsignificantly put others at risk for contracting your child’s illness,please keep them home. The Health Center should be notified (763-381-8241) of any communicable diseases, surgeries or injuries thatinvolve your child. Please contact the Health Center if you havequestions.

IllnessesParents should call the Upper School Attendance Clerk (763-381-8240) between 7:30 and 9:00 AM to report an absence and the rea-son for the absence. The Health Center should also be notified (763-381-8241) of any communicable disease, injury or health conditionthat may need assessment or support at school. Please call the LSNif you have concerns.

Students who become ill during the school day need a written passfrom their teacher to see the nurse. For passes given during passingtimes (the five minutes between classes), the student should askthe teacher of their next class for a pass, not the teacher of the pre-vious class. In order to return to class, students must present a passsigned by the nurse. If, after one hour, a student is not well enoughto return to class, the nurse will call the parents to take the studenthome early. Student absences will be considered unplanned andunexcused if they leave school, ill without checking out of thenurse’s office. In case of an emergency, the nurse will be called andshe will then make the judgment whether to call the ambulance.


In case of illness or accident after school, or when the nurse is notin attendance, students are referred to the Upper School office.

Students who visit a medical professional for an injury or illnessare required to submit to the Health Center a statement of medical clearance to participate in school or sports. The physician mustspecify recommendations and/or limitations. The doctor may usehis/her own form, or one can be obtained in the Health Center ortrainer’s office. The forms can also be faxed to the Health Center(763-381-8199).

Medication PolicyStudents who need to take medication during the school day mustdo so in the Health Center. Students must deliver the medication tothe Health Center in the original container. Students are not per-mitted to keep medications, prescriptions or over-the-counter (OTC)drugs in their possession or lockers. Exceptions are students whomust carry an asthma inhaler or EpiPen. These students must havea written doctor’s order, written parent permission and havedemonstrated to the school nurse competency in administration.Other special requests may be discussed with the school nurse. If astudent is on a field trip or an international travel program spon-sored by Breck School, the LSN will delegate medication administra-tion to a responsible Breck School employee when possible.

If prescribed medication needs to be taken during school hours, stu-dents must provide written physician and parent authorization.Ask your pharmacist to supply a duplicate labeled container so onecan be kept at home and school. The medication should be labeledby the pharmacy and include the following information:

1. Child’s name2. Name of medication3. Dosage4. Date and time of the day it is to be given5. Duration of time it is to be given6. Physician’s name and telephone number7. Pharmacy telephone number

Students should know the time they should go to the HealthCenter for medication. Non-prescription (OTC) medication such asTylenol must be supplied by the parent, and parental writtenauthorization is required.


The Health Center personnel reserve the right to refuse to givemedication that exceeds the recommended dosage per thePhysician’s Desk Reference (PDR), or that cannot be located in the PDR.

Physical Examinations and Immunization Policy A Breck Physical Examination Form or a Minnesota State HighSchool League (MSHSL) form is required for all students and must beupdated every three years in accordance with the rules of theMSHSL for athletics. Students must have current immunizationrecords that comply with Minnesota State Law. Physical examina-tion and 2016-17 immunization forms are due to the Health Centerby August 1, 2016. These forms can be mailed or dropped off in thesecure mailbox outside the Health Center. The administrationreserves the right to refuse attendance to students who do notcomply. Students who have not submitted their completed formsmay not participate in interscholastic athletics.

Schedule/Calendar/EventsPlease refer to the “Upper School” Google Calendar for the most up-to-date information.

All-School ChapelAll-School Chapels are normally scheduled for the first Tuesday ofeach month; any variations are listed in the Breck Calendar.


Upper School Daily Schedule


Student SupportAdvisoryAdvisors are an important member of student’s support team inthe Upper School. Parents and students are encouraged to use thestudent’s advisor as a guide when navigating the rigor of the Upper School.

Counseling ServicesThe role of the school counselor is to help students access their education. The Upper School Counselor is available to all studentsfor guidance and support. Students may access the counselor in person, or via email communication. Parents or guardians of students are also encouraged to consult with the counselor for situations concerning their student.

Identification of Chemical InvolvementIf a student has not violated school rules with his or her alcohol orchemical use, but is identified as having possible chemical involve-ment through shared concerns, a conference will be scheduledbetween the school and the family. This conference, which can beinitiated by any of the parties described above, will focus on a planto evaluate the student’s possible involvement with chemicals andto address any problems identified through that evaluation.

TransportationBus TransportationSchool bus service is available to students in the Twin Cities and most suburban areas. In addition to regular morning and the 3:25 PM afternoon buses, a 5:30 PM activity bus is providedthroughout the school year for the convenience of students who are involved in athletics and other after-school activities. Any questions about bus services should be addressed to Mark Ryks in the transportation office (763-381-8218) located just insidethe Middle School entrance to the left.

See Driving/Parking for specific driving rules at Breck.


Extracurricular Activities and ClubsExtracurricular Activities and ClubsEach fall the Dean of Students produces a current list of clubs andactivities. During the first month of school, students have an oppor-tunity to attend an activities/club fair. The administration supportsthese clubs and views participation in these activities as both sup-portive of community life and as leadership opportunities.

AthleticsInformation about Breck’s Athletics programs may be found onpage 149 of this Handbook.

upper school student handbook 2016-17 us...upper school student handbook 2016-17 breck upper school...

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